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No. 1024 - THE COLD WITHIN!

No. 1024

Jim Davidson -- NEWSPAPER COLUMN

THE COLD WITHIN!

The human mind is the single greatest agency to ever appear on earth. Within this small mass of collective gray matter has hatched every invention, product, idea or concept ever to grace this small planet. However, sometimes we forget that this wonderful tool is also impartial. It will only operate on what we choose (or fail to choose) to allow to enter it.
A while back a friend gave me a book to read and it was a thick book, small type that would have taken me several weeks to read. After a few weeks I began to see and read things that were just pure pornography. Even though I am sure this book had some redeeming qualities, I finally just stopped reading and put it aside. The reason I did this is because I did not want that kind of content in my mind. You see, I made a choice and that is the power we each have over our mind and also our lives.
By contrast, I want to tell you about some other great reading material that will seed your mind with thoughts that can truly make a difference in your life. My good friend Cliff Garrison from time to time forwards me a wonderful publication titled “What Will Matter” by Michael Josephson. Michael is the founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics based in Los Angeles. This man is also first class, and if he sends it out you be assured that it contains some helpful information. Recently Cliff sent me something he received from Michael titled, “The Cold Within,” that is great food for thought. You know it is our thoughts that produce ideas, that form the basis for our actions, and this determines the quality of our lives.
This poem was written by James Patrick Kinney, as Michael also uses selected material he gleans from others. Hope you are in a reflective mood as this is a little deep for me. It begins:
“Six humans trapped by happenstance, in black and bitter cold. Each one possessed a stick of wood, or so the story’s told.
Their dying fire in need of logs, the first woman held hers back, for on the faces around the fire, she noticed one was black.
The next man looking ‘cross the way, saw one not of his church, and couldn’t bring himself to give, the fire his stick of birch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes. He gave his coat a hitch. Why should his log be put to use, to warm the idle rich?
The rich man just sat back and thought, of the wealth he had in store. And how to keep what he had earned, from the lazy, shiftless poor.
The black man’s face bespoke revenge, as the first passed from his sight, for all he saw in his stick of wood, was a chance to spite the white.
And the last man from this forlorn group, did naught except for gain. Giving only to those who gave, was how he played the game.
The logs held tight in death’s still hands, was proof of human sin. They didn’t die from the cold without. They died from the cold within.”
Well, I hope you enjoyed that. I sure did. At this point it seems appropriate to share a few thoughts about the division and unrest taking place, mostly in larger cities, across our country. We have a great nation, but unless we take care to heal the wounds that are mostly self-inflicted we will suffer irreparable harm. The local police forces across our nation seem to be bearing the major brunt of the discord. This should never be the case, and I hope you will join me in making this clear to each of our citizens. There are a few bad apples, always have been and always will be, but the majority are great public servants who put their lives on the line every day for us.
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(EDITOR’S NOTE: THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY – Begin your day on a positive note – 365 days for $12. This will benefit the Bookcase for Every Child project. Go to www.apositivemomentwithjim.com to subscribe.)